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A&E Crisis 'utterly predictable and totally preventable' - Ó Caoláin

Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD
has described the A&E crisis as highlighted by the Irish Nurses Organisation
as both predictable and preventable. He said the failure of the Government
to implement its own Health Strategy meant that this was now an annual event
and he called on the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to
deliver on her promises.

Speaking today he said:

"The winter A&E crisis is now an annual event. It is as utterly
predictable at Christmas but totally preventable. Many of the remedies are
in the Government's own Health Strategy which it has failed to implement.
These include:

More acute beds in our hospitals as promised

The recruitment of the additional nurses required

The roll-out of promised Primary Care centres to help take the pressure
off our hospitals

The conclusion of the negotiations with hospital consultants for a new
contract and exclusive working by new consultants in the public system

Restoration of A&E services in local hospitals where they have been cut.

"It is scandalous that once again the number of people on trolleys and
chairs in A&E units has reached an all-time high in the month of
January. Minister Harney's 'new broom' has not swept clean and is clearly
threadbare." ENDS